Meta-Cognition
Quick running note: I hit 54 miles this week. Instead of multiple 50 mile weeks since January first, it's only my second. My weekly mileages have been hanging in the mid-thirties, with a couple of low 40s weeks. I haven't been able to pull off the mileage and training that I planned (that whole life is busy thing, plus a three week cold, followed by another one two weeks later), but I still feel pretty good about where I'm at. I think I'm ready for Pac Rim. Plus, today, I ran five miles at a 10:50 pace, including one minute walk breaks! Whoo-hoo! Speedy! One more race before Pac Rim (a Six Hour Run next weekend) then it's taper time. Hard to believe it's here already!
Joe's post prompted me to think about thinking - meta-cognition, for those of us in education. Someone asked Joe what he thinks about when he's out on long runs. I've been asked that question, usually following "How can you run without music?" My answer is that I love the way my thoughts drift during every run, wandering around, drifting and dreaming. I can think through problems, plan, fume, explore, contemplate, imagine, create and wonder. And... sometimes I don't think at all, I just exist. Does that make sense? I run on auto-pilot and the only input or output is sensory, I hear my footfalls, I hear my breathing, I run. I think that is the only time my mind ever goes completely quiet - even in sleep, I'm dreaming. I find it essential to have time like this, time to think. I would even venture to say that it is important to be able to spend that kind of time with your own thoughts.
Now, I know this one will get me in hot water, but really, I think that it is vital for every one of us to have some time in a day where we can think about anything and everything. I think that our world provides too many distractions: ipod, facebook, blogging, TV, radio, video games, movies, work, commuting, family, friends, meetings and more. I believe down-time is important - it's how we consolidate our values, our philosophies, solve our problems, fit new things into our existing schema. For me, that time comes during running. And yes, I've run for hours and hours - 19 hours last year at Pac Rim - and no, I never listen to music. Even though much of that time is spent in conversation, much of it is not. I've run up to 7 hours by myself, no music, nothing but the sounds of me moving through space, and no, I don't get bored, and I would even say it renews me.
I originally asked for an Ipod for Christmas so I could download a book to listen to during the 24 hours of Pac Rim, and I've been using it to listen to books during my commute. Lately though, I've been reconsidering that idea. I may load one up just in case, but I'm afraid I might find it more stressful than entertaining. I might actually be the only person in the world that finds listening to music an irritant rather than a calming experience. I find that it often puts me on edge and I much prefer silence. Over the years, I've come to realize that is an unusual aspect of my personality, and I don't believe I've met anyone else who shares that feeling yet. In some ways, it's just too much audio input, and as I've listened to books in the car, I've found that even that can be too much. However, the sounds of children playing or the hours-long conversations with friends don't feel that way to me. Strange... maybe it's because those sounds are the sounds of life?
I read an article once that said that scientists had discovered that when some people listen to or perform music, the entire top part of the brain lights up, and that when other people listen only a tiny portion of the brain lights up. I suspect I'm one of the tiny portion people. I guess those differences are what makes the world go 'round right?
So, see what happens when reading blogs with the morning cup of tea? Meta-cognition and a rambling blog post. I'll get back on track with a race report next weekend, promise!
13 comments:
Enjoyed the post, Michelle...glad I could help prompt your thinking.
What you capture well here (with which I do as well but did not capture in my post) is the free-flowing nature of thought which is essential. No hot water from me... productive, effective, mature people need to have the mental space to NOT be occupied. The subconscious can take over in those moments, making the conscious more mature, more useful. Dare I say, more "wise"?? Thus my comments on wisdom.
Fundamentally, a long-term happy runner runs for the sake of running. No music required. Short-term runners need a distraction from the running. When one learns to appreciate the thing for the thing itself, it has greater meaning.
Boy, are we getting philosophical!! Enjoy your 6 hour run next weekend!!!!
Appreciated very much your comment about names of races.
When you see him, please tell Rob congratulations on the great life and best wishes from MNSunshine. Sounds like he is keeping his priorites in balance. Glad to hear he is OK.
PS
Music is a distraction to me. I want to pay attention to my running and my surroundings. So you are not the only one!
I've enjoyed this topic of thinking and running.
Funny about you and music. Music really speaks to me, except in those rare cases that I really need to concentrate, such as driving in a new city, then I need the quite to think.
I can relate. There have been times in my life when music has been very important to me. And music can bring up emotions in me that other things can't. But for running in particular, I would rather be without music than with. Probably treadmill running is the only time I prefer music. I listened to my iPod for a lap during my 50 miles at Autumn Leaves a few years ago. But I had to take it off...it was too distracting!
I love being in my own thoughts when running by myself. I mentioned on Joe's post that a running friend of mine doesn't understand how I don't "get negative" on long runs by myself. That never crosses my mind. If anything I get more positive. : )
I am totally with you. I don't even run with music when I run outside (I'll admit, the treadmill requires distraction). As much thinking as I have to do, I am thankful for the time during running. In fact, there are things I'll put off thinking about until a run. It's a good thing!
My writing this week is very related to this post. Music permits me to travel on time... to places... to be again with people that are gone. Music talks to me and with the songs' words I compose my own world. It is a magnificent experience.
No, I'm pretty much in the same boat. Niamh gave me an mp3 player as a present, but when I used it for running I found it distracting rather than helpful. I much prefer to be in my own little world and have my thought go in each and every direction.
I have been asked countless times how I don't get bored, running for hours and hours. I can honestly say that I have never been bored during a run, not for a single second.
A lot of folks who listen to music or podcasts or books are going by body memory (or mind memory?). When you are used to it, you feel more comfortable listening to it. And, of course, you can be just as distracted without it if you are deep in tought. To each his own, I've learned.
I bought a radio/mp3 player over two years ago. It was such a piece of junk. I think I used it twice, and I hadn't missed it. I recently bought a Clip+, and I've been enjoying the radio. I keep the music extremely low, and it's not what I focus on. I don't think I would want to be distracted by listening to a book either. You have to pay attention to be entertained by a book. With music, it can play in the background and intertwine with your thoughts.
There's something to be said about the sounds of life. :)
I agree with you that everyone needs some time to just be. I think the amount of time varies greatly though. If your an introvert which I suspect you are. You will definitely need more time like this. For an introvert this is energy recovery time. I am extrovert but I still require quiet time to be introspective it just doesn't refuel me in the same way.
I loved this post! When I first started walking I would always bring my ipod, with time I started appreciating spending time with my own thoughts. When I started running, when I was out on my own or at the gym, I would bring my ipod. Now, I only use it at the gym (mostly because I don't like the music they play at the gym)...but I am enjoying my thoughts when I run outside, which is almost always. I enjoy music, but I become overstimulated after a while and just want peace and quiet in my brain.
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